What To Do: Orchids take center stage at Longwood Gardens

Jan 19th, 2018 · Comments Off on What To Do: Orchids take center stage at Longwood Gardens

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

Orchids at Longwood Gardens

If you were asked to name the largest family of flowering plants in the world, what would be your response?

If you chose the orchid, you’d be right on the money.

The largest family of flowering plants in the world is the orchid — a flower that is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful, delicate and graceful flowers in the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list over 20,000 accepted species with about 800 new species added each year. Additionally, horticulturists have more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.

Every year when January arrives, Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) celebrates the ultra-popular plant during “Orchid Extravaganza” — an annual event that opens this year on January 20 and continues through March 25.

The celebration of the orchid species features thousands of orchid blooms along with a variety of displays and special exhibits throughout its four-acre conservatory. “Orchid Extravaganza” will also feature stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.

As one of the first plant collections at Longwood, orchids have held a place of distinction since 1922. The site’s talented horticulturists celebrate the beauty and variety of orchids with an artful display that includes a towering 12-foot-tall archway, a spectacular orchid curtain, and hundreds of vibrant Vanda orchids adorning the Silver Garden.

Approximately 5,000 colorful orchids hang from baskets, create inspiring arrangements and adorn unique forms throughout “Orchid Extravaganza.” Those who visit the floral extravaganza in March will have the opportunity to see Longwood Gardens’ rare sky-blue poppies in bloom in the Conservatory during Longwood’s inaugural Winter Blues Festival.

Another attraction is “OrKid Days,” which are scheduled for February 19 and March 17. Each “OrKid Day” includes a kids’ performance, craft sessions and the “Orchid Sorting Game.”

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students.

Last year, the inaugural “Women’s March on Philadelphia” was staged with great results. The event is being celebrated again this year with a variety of activities on January 20.

Women’s March on Philadelphia 2018

“Women’s March on Philadelphia 2018: We Resist. We Persist. We Rise.” (www.womensmarchphl.com) will get underway at 10:30 a.m. with participants gathering at Aviator Park/Logan Square and then marching at 11 a.m. marching from Logan Square to Eakins Oval.

At noon, the rally with speakers and performers will begin at Eakins Oval.

After reviewing nearly 150 applications for everyday speakers and performers for the “Women’s March on Philadelphia 2018,” the organizers narrow the list to 12.

The roster includes Vashti Bandy (member of Tuesdays with Toomey, speaking about how “We Lead the Persistence”), Jenny Entin (computer science student at U Penn, speaking about women in engineering), Pauline Thompson Guerin (member of Philadelphia Veterans for Organization, speaking about veteran women and sexual assault), Amy Gunzelman (17-year-old senior at Spring Grove HS, speaking about her persistence in her community), and Michele Leahy (speaking about “Gimp Gals are Here Too!”).

The lineup also features Jamie Perrapato (member of Turn PA Blue, speaking about “Getting More Democratic Women Elected to PA State House”), Melissa Robbins (member of Emerge PA and NOW, two organizations where women are empowered to lead, speaking about “Staying Committed and Being the Change”), Marguerite Sexton (performing her original public inspiration chant “We Are One”), Daejah Vaughn (15-year-old spoken word poet), Voices Rising Philadelphia (community chorus of women and men committed to social justice and motivating people to resist — to persist —- to arise!), and Barbara Wittman (speaking about bullying and winning).

This is the opening weekend for an interesting new exhibit at the Mutter Museum (19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, 215-560-8564, muttermuseum.org).

“Woven Strands: The Art of Human Hair Work” will open on January 19 and run through July 12.

A favored folk art of the 18th and 19th century, hair art was a sentimental expression of grief and love, usually created by women whose identities have become anonymous over time. Human hair (from both living and deceased persons) was used to form flower bouquets, wreaths, braided jewelry chains, weeping willows, and painted scenes of mourning. Considered to be a form of portraiture, these were cherished tokens to preserve the memory of a deceased loved one, chart a vibrant family tree of the living, or to be traded as friendship keepsakes. It is rare to view such pieces publicly as they were created in domestic settings, for home display.

From six private collections, the Mütter Museum along with John Whitenight and Evan Michelson have assembled an exquisite group of hair art and jewelry as well as accompanying materials that discuss the social expectations of Victorian-era mourning rituals that ruled 19th century society with strict standards.

The 32nd Annual Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show

If you’re into hot cars, then cold days probably won’t slow you down and keep you from your date with all things motorsports this weekend.

The 32nd Annual Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show will run from January 19-21 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, 609-888-3618, www.a arn.com).

The name of hits weekend’s show in Oaks is officially Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 Fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels and Distributed by Insinger Performance Race Car and Trade Show.

The huge annual event will feature close to 300,000 square feet of exhibition space devoted to auto racing, street rods and everything else related to motorsports. There will be hundreds of exhibits, a full schedule of informative seminars and personal appearances by a wide array of racing legends.

There will be more than 200 motorsports vehicles of all types on exhibit. A number of area speedways will have displays at the show and offer a great opportunity for fans to meet some of their standout performers and pick up a schedule of motorsports events for the 2018 season.

More than 600 exhibit booths featuring 400-plus racing dealers, hardcore manufacturers of racing equipment and more will be part of the huge show, which is billed as the biggest and best of its type in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.

Show attendees will have the opportunity to meet and collect autographs from well-known figures in motorsports, including Tony Stewart, Steve Kinser, Mike Sweeney and Tyler Walton.

Another annual fan favorite at the annual show is the Ms. Motorsports Pageant, which is scheduled for Saturday evening. As an added attraction, there will be autograph sessions with many of the contestants from recent years.

Show hours are 2-9 p.m. on January 19, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on January 20 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on January 21. Tickets for adults are $14 daily or $30 for three-day pass. Tickets for children (ages 6-12) are $5 daily or $10 for three-day pass.

The Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, which is running now through February at RiverRink (Delaware Avenue at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-RINK,www.riverrink.com), is featuring a special event this weekend — the Fourth Annual Brewfest.

“Brewfest,” which is scheduled for January 20 and 21, features a variety of free events, including beer talks, instruction on home brewing and screenings of films and television shows that are considered “beer-centric.”

Unquestionably, the biggest draw will be generated by a number of regional breweries that will be giving out samples of some of their best beers – including Downingtown’s Victory Brewing Company.

The first session will feature Sly Fox Brewing Company, Victory Brewing Company, Yards, and Cape May Brewing Company on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. followed by Sly Fox Brewing Company, Conshohocken Brewing Company, Dogfish Head and Twin Lakes Brewing from 5-8 p.m. Then, there will be music by DJ Royal T from 7-10 p.m.

There will be just one session on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The featured brew manufacturers will be Troegs, Dock Street Brewery, and Twin Lakes Brewing.

Sand Castle Winery will also be on-site.

Open seven days a week, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is an immersive winter-themed experience with a popular bar and restaurant called The Lodge, winter beer garden-style landscaping, a brand-new light show, and a retail shopping experience from Art Star Gallery & Boutique.

If you’re a fan of the cold-weather season, there’s a special event coming up that you’re bound to enjoy — the 2018 Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival (Various locations around New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey, 215-862-5067, www.Winterfestival.net).

The popular annual event is running from January 20-28 in the two towns which straddle the Delaware River in Upper Bucks County — New Hope in Pennsylvania and Lambertville in New Jersey. The festival’s organizers list two main goals — to provide a healthy cold-weather experience in their river town communities and to demonstrate that their diverse communities are alive and well in the winter.

The featured concert will be the John Hall Band Reunion on January 26 at New Hope Winery (6123 Lower York Road, New Hope)

Artists will be presenting live sculpting demonstrations at three locations — HG New Hope Pizza (6510 Lower York Road, New Hope) and Triumph Brewing Company (400 Union Square Drive, New Hope) on January 27, and Suez Water (11 Bridge Street, Lambertville) on January 28.

If you’re looking for a fun family activity – an indoor activity unaffected by the weather — Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116,www.linvilla.com) has something just for you — the miniature golf course “Fore! the Planet.”

Fore! The Planet

Linvilla Orchard’s “Fore! The Planet” is a highly interactive and playful museum exhibit created by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This exhibition pairs important environmental issues with the fun of miniature golf.

It features 18 unique educational holes on a variety of topics — butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rainforest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains and more. Kids of all ages can enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment on every hole.

The first hole is “Butterfly Life Cycle” and players must putt through each stage of the colorful insect’s metamorphosis. The next five holes are titled “Seed Dispersal,” “Bat Sonar,” “Food Chain,” “Evolution of a Golfer” and “Backyard Explorer” followed by “Natural Selection” and “Predators and Prey.”

On the “Dinosaur Extinction” hole, players get to hit their balls toward the scientific theory of dinosaur extinction they find most plausible. The remainder of the thought-provoking holes are “Recycling,” “Water Pollution,” “Landfills,” “Wild Corridors,” “Bird Migration,” “Spawning Salmon,” “Alien Species,” “Population Threats” and “Rainforest Threats.”

The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. through March 31. Tickets are $6.95 (ages 11 and over) and $5.95 (ages 10 and under).

Another fun activity—one that is nature-related and educational — is the “Sea Turtle Hatchling Naming Contest” at the Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, 856-365-3300, www.adventureaquarium.com).

On January 2, the Aquarium welcomed its own “Baby New Year” of 2018 – its new loggerhead sea turtle hatchling.

The Adventure Aquarium needs your help naming him.

During the month of January, donate spare change toward your favorite name at the voting station located in the Main Lobby of the Aquarium. All proceeds collected will be donated to Sea Turtle Conservancy and help sea turtles in the wild.

The name options are D’Artagnan (Dart for short — of “Stranger Things 2” fame), Davey, Tyrion (after the fan-favorite “Game of Thrones” character) and Maverick (as a homage to “Top Gun”).

The young turtle is a part of a rehab and release program. Every year, the Aquarium receives a hatchling from North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Sea Turtle Program to rehabilitate for one year.

Biologists will help guide and train the hatchling to do activities it would normally do in the wild as sort of “survival school” for sea turtles. After a year, the hatchling is released into the wild off the coast of North Carolina along with other yearlings from aquariums over the country.

You can now visit the young turtle on exhibit in Sea Turtle Cove, adjacent to Ocean Realm where the Aquarium’s adult sea turtles reside.

Admission to the Adventure Aquarium is $29 for adults and $21 for children (ages 2-12). Children under two are admitted free with a paying adult.

Every year, the Garden State Discovery Museum (2040 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 856-424-1233, www.discoverymuseum.com) presents a special program called “Passport to Discovery.”

Passport to Discovery: Mexico

This weekend’s event is “Passport to Discovery: Mexico.”

The activities salute our neighbor to the south – you know, the friendly country on the other side of the wall that (hopefully) will never be built.

On January 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors to the museum will be able to discover the art of Mexico this weekend and learn the basics of self-portraits by examining the works of one of Mexico’s most famous painters — Frida Kahlo.

As an added attraction, “Passport” participants can enjoy tastings of chips and salsa from the museum’s friends at On the Border.

On January 27, the event will be “Passport to Discovery: Japan” with an educational look at the customs of the Asian island country while February 3 will be the date for “Passport to Discovery: Italy.”

Other activities in the series are “Passport to Discovery: A Frosty Weekend” on February 10 and 11, “Passport to Discovery: Africa” on February 17, “Passport to Discovery: Ireland” on March 3 and 4, and “Passport to Discovery: Polynesia” on March 17.

Admission to the Garden State Discovery Museum is $13.95 for adults and children 12 months and over and $12.95 for seniors.

Native American Voices Exhibition Tour

On January 20, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (33rd and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, 215-898-4000, www.penn.museum) is hosting a special event – the “Native American Voices Exhibition Tour.”

Museum visitors will be able to participate in an engaging docent-led gallery tour of the Native American Voices exhibition. Videos and interactive technology will bring this gallery to life and introduce visitors to the diverse Native American people of today.

Tour participants will have the opportunity to hear the voices of Native Americans and discover cultural artifacts ranging from the Southwest to the Arctic.

Visitors to the Museum are invited to leave preconceptions behind and discover a living tapestry of Nations with distinct stories, histories, and identities in “Native American Voices: The People — Here and Now,” a new long-term interactive exhibition.

Set against the backdrop of more than 200 objects from the Museum’s expansive collections from the United States and Canada, the exhibition challenges stereotypes and tells powerful stories of Native American successes in achieving independence as sovereign, self-governing Nations.

At multimedia stations, visitors will experience audio and video clips of contemporary Native Americans speaking of the many ways in which they maintain their religious, political, linguistic, and artistic independence.

Material highlights include Lenape objects from the Delaware Valley region, war bonnets and regalia, intricately woven baskets, contemporary Native American art, and famous stone tools from Clovis, New Mexico, that, at 9,000 to 11,000 years old, are among the oldest objects in the Museum’s collection.

Over the course of five years, nearly 300 objects representing 85 tribes will be rotated for display. Visitors will be able to investigate and sort these objects according to personal interests at interactive digital stations, fashioning their own unique experiences while gaining insight into the materials on display.

The tour on Saturday, which will get underway at 1:30 p.m., is free with general admission. Museum admission is $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens, $10 for students and free for children (under 6).

37th Annual Philadelphia Home Show

Whether you’re a handyman, a home improvement fanatic or just a tinkerer who likes working on small projects around the house, you should check out the 37th Annual Philadelphia Home Show. The event is running now through January 21 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (12th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, 215- 418-2003,www.phillyhomeshow.com).

Pottery Barn is taking over the Main Stage creating a backdrop showcasing the latest furniture trends for 2018. Top designers like NYC Tyler Wisler, from HGTV’s “Design Star” and Kevin O’Conner, host of the award-winning PBS series “This Old House” will take the stage to share insider secrets and expert advice for every home improvement project

The year’s 1880, and there’s an effort underway to resurrect the once-booming Chaddsford Saloon. A series of murders from a decade back sent the town of Chadds Ford into disrepair, but a certain cowboy reckons the time has finally come to get the town back on its feet.

Guests are invited to head on down to the “Grand Reopenin’” to see what all the fuss is about. The event is billed as “sure to be a gun-slingin’ good time.”

Along with an exciting evening of mystery and suspense, visitors can enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an array of Chaddsford Winery wines.

Penns Woods Winery is joining forces with local cheese makers and local honey artisans to present exclusive pairings of wine, cheese and honey. The tastings will feature five premium Penns Woods wines, each paired with various cheeses and honey from local farms.

The mouth-watering tastings will be held every weekend in January from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. As an added attraction, live music will be featured on January 20 and 27 from 2-5 p.m. each day.

Tickets cost $28 per person in advance and reservations are required. Cancellations must be made within 72 hours or ticket holders will be charged the full amount of the tasting. Reservations are made and kept on the hour.

The Schuylkill Canal Park boasts a number of outdoor recreational experiences. This site is a treasure trove for nature lovers featuring areas for wildflower walks, premier birding paths, a favorite local fishing spot, a public boat launch, and a five-mile water loop trail. Beautiful views of the Schuylkill River make for a pleasant visiting experience.

In addition to its outdoor beauty, the site holds many pieces of historical interest. A fully restored, working lock on the Schuylkill Canal, originally built as part of the Schuylkill Navigation system, is demonstrated for groups and during special events. This lock, one of 72 originally built on the canal, was constructed in the 1820s and was originally part of the Oakes Reach. The site includes the original Locktender’s house (exterior restoration) as well as canal information and memorabilia. The house is open by appointment and during special events.

The Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on January 21 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center (76 Industrial Highway, Essington, 856-217-5737, www.philadelphiacomic-con.com), features comic books, trading cards and other collectibles — both modern and vintage.

The event, which has an admission fee of $3, also features a number of special autograph guests.

The popular collectibles event, which is the area’s longest running comic convention, will host dealers from all over the Northeast with sales booths featuring Gold & Silver Age comics, action figures, non-sport cards (including Topps “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).

Also featured will be Japanese Manga, gaming cards such as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering, original artwork and all the latest issues of today’s popular comic book series.

The roster of top-flight vendors includes veteran dealers and relative newcomers. As an added attraction, there will be hourly door prizes beginning at 11 a.m. with $100 in show cash to be given away.

“A Brandywine Christmas”, which is a holiday tradition at the Brandywine River Museum (Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org), is an annual event that is fun for the entire family. It was originally scheduled to close on January 7 but has been extended to January 28.

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (65 and older) and $6 for children.

“Benjamin Franklin Tippler’s Tour” (Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, 215-629-5801, http://historicphiladelphia.org/tipplers-tour) will be held on January 19 and 20 starting at 5:30 p.m. each night.

The over-21 set joins a Colonial guide for the Tippler’s Tour with Ben Franklin. It is a rollicking pub crawl with stops for drinks and snacks at four Old City establishments –at The Franklin at Independence Park, National Mechanics, Victoria Freehouse and City Tavern.

Ben Franklin, the “Birthday Boy,” will join the tour along the way. He will hang around to chat with guests at City Tavern, the final stop, and to enjoy a Yards Brewing Company Franklin Spruce Ale.

“Grim Philly’s Nightmare Before Christmas Tavern Tour!” (856-829-3100, http://www.grimphilly.com) will be held January 19, and 20.

Participants will have the opportunity to toast with the ghosts of Christmas past while drinking in the yuletide spirits of grog and nog on this entertaining fact-filled tour.

The evening’s activities include trivia and drinking games for chances to win free beer, drink and/or food samples for all at each stop and a variety of drink specials.

Participants can relax in warmth enjoying authentic handmade Christmas beverages, snacks and prizes (included) as they learn a full range of the surprising histories of Yule, and Viking lore and Saturnalia — all which have worked their way in to our modern Christian celebrations including ideas of magick, gift giving…and origins in even infanticide and human sacrifice.

Guests will be able to revel in little known facts of our holiday past including the season’s pagan roots in Roman, Celtic & German traditions, while learning of medieval, and New World additions in mumming & mistletoe. The event will feature Keebler elves, yule logs, and a jolly flying fat man delivering Hollister and IPods from some secret snow kingdom to the north.

The tour price of $59 includes guided historic tour of “Grim” Philly, three tavern admissions and three drinks. The tours, which run from 6-10 p.m. each night (4-8 p.m. on Saturdays), will depart from Infusion, located at 16 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Located on the Greenfield Lawn, the maze features vibrant plantings, topiaries, twinkling lights, and décor that showcases all of the public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes that are located within 30 miles of Philadelphia. A “Welcoming Gazebo” is located at the center of the maze.

The Wintergarden and Maze is billed as “a way to celebrate in William Penn’s original center square and the 32 regional gardens and arboreta that make this region America’s Garden Capital.”